Ice making apparatus



Jan. 19, 1960 M. G. GOTTSCHALK 2,921,447

ICE MAKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12. 1954 FIG-1 INVENTOR. @GAM BY a? Z ma-v J ai dfi M. G. GOTTSCHALK 2,921,447

ICE MAKING APPARATUS Jan. 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1954 FIG-3 INVENTOR. M GGM BY M I'M United States Patent ICE MAKING APPARATUS Maynard G. Gottschallr, Syracuse, N.Y., assignor to Carrlel' Corporation, Syracuse, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 12, 1954, Serial No. 403,558

11 Claims. (Cl. 62-139) This invention relates generally to ice making apparatus and, more particularly, to a machine for making ice which includes a freezing compartment and a storage compartinent in communication therewith.

More specifically, one form of an ice making machine to which this invention pertains includes an ice making compartment comprised of a plurality of tubes in which ice is formed, a refrigeration system, the evaporator of which is disposed about the ice forming members, a sump containing a supply of water, a pump for supplying water through a cycle which includes the sump and the refrigerated ice forming members and control means that automatically causes alternate freezing and harvesting cycles to take place.

The termination of the freezing cycle, in a machine of this general type, normally occurs when passage of the water through the ice forming members is restricted due to the accumulation of ice which has been formed therein. The water then backs up at the entrance of the ice forming member and overflows into a trough positioned adjacent the entrance. From the trough, the water is conveyed to a control zone where, with the aid of a thermostat, a control is actuated which terminates the freezing cycle and the water circulation. The water circulation is terminated by discontinuing the operation of the pump so thatthe water remains in the sump rather than in circulation. At this time, a harvesting cycle is also actuated.

A chief object of this invention is the provision of a safety control which assures the discontinuance of the operation of the pump, upon failure of the control system, by opening a switch in the electric circuit controlling the operation of the machine and the pump motor. If the control system fails to operate properly and an excessively long freezing cycle is permitted, the ice fonning members may burst due to ice formation therein. It is therefore an important feature in the invention to provide an arrangement that will insure the discontinuance of the operation of the pump by utilizing an abnormal accumulation of water to indicate a failure of the control system and to open the circuit above-mentioned. The water so utilized is removed from the trough so that it will not fiow into the ice forming members to be frozen.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent upon a consideration of the ensuing specification and drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically the operation of an ice making machine that incorporates the safety control forming the subject of this invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the operation of the switch in detail; and I v Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating the operation of the pump and switch.

The ice making machine shown in Figure 1 serves to illustrate one embodiment of my invention, and includes a plurality of ice forming members, preferably tubes 2 of a rectangular cross section, having disposed thereabout an evaporator coil 3 of a refrigeration system. The sysice tem further includes a compressor 4, a discharge line 5, a condenser 6, a restriction 8, a suction line 9, and an accumulator 10. These particular elements are arranged and operate in their normal intended manner and serve to illustrate a conventional refrigeration system. The condenser 6 is shown in heat exchange relation with water from a municipal system. The water circulation system of the ice maker may best be described as including a sump 18, which contains a supply of water, a conduit 20, a pump 19, and a header 21. The pump functions to supply water from the sump through conduit 20 to the header 21. A plurality of spouts depend from the underside of the header in communication with the tops of the ice forming members. Water dispersion plates 22 are positioned in the entrance of the ice forming members and serve to direct the flow of water from the spouts to the sides of the ice forming members from where it gravitates through a grid 23 positioned at an angle to the bottom of the ice forming members. The grid serves to deflect the ice when it is discharged from the tubes in a manner to be later described. It may be appreciated that quantities of the water that gravitate through the tubes are formed into ice and that other quantities of water return to the sump for further recirculation. A float valve 23' is positioned within the sump and serves to permit water from the municipal supply system to take the place of the water that has been formed into ice so that a substantially constant level of water is maintained within the sump.

As pointed out above, the formation of the ice within the ice forming tubes proceeds, over a period of time, from the inner walls of the tubes to the center thereof. Eventually, the presence of the ice offers a restriction to the flow of water through the member. At this time the water backs up at the entrance of the ice forming member and overflows into a trough 50 placed just below the top of the ice forming tubes. The water is then directed through an opening in the side of the trough adjacent the bottom to line 51, to an 'S-shaped pipe having a thermal responsive bulb positioned in the top thereof. This bulb, after it has been cooled, by engagement with the overflow water, acts through thermostat T to discontinue the freezing cycle and initiate the harvesting cycle. This particular control is disclosed in copending application, Serial No. 171,593, filed July 1, 1950, now Patent No. 2,775,098, in the name of David E. MacLeod, and forms no part of this invention. The harvesting cycle normally discontinues the operation of the pump, permitting the water in the pump and conduit 20 to be returned by gravity to the sump 18. Water in the sump is then evacuated by siphon action as described and claimed in the copending application of Harlen L. Howe, Serial No. 393,431, filed November 20, 1953, now Patent No. 2,775,100, the evacuated water being placed in heat exchange relation with the water from the municipal supply, as shown in Figure 1. Also, as shown in Figure 1, a by-pass line 12, having solenoid valve 13 therein, permits hot condensed gas to pass directly from the compressor to the evaporator. This causes a thawing action within the tubes so that the ice is discharged therefrom and passes to the storage bunker.

This invention, as pointed out above, involves an arrangement which serves as a safety means for ensuring the discontinuance of the action of the pump, in the event the above-described control system fails to operate. As shown more particularly in Figure 2, a tube 52 is bent so that one end rests on the bottom of the trough and the other end communicates with an opening in the end wall of the trough, spaced vertically from the opening in communication with line 51. With the disclosed construction a siphon action occurs when there is a volume of water in the trough that covers the top of tube 52. The water which flows through member 52 is 2,921,447 a i i conveyed by pipe 54 to a nozzle 56 which is supported in the bracket 58 which in turn is secured to one side of sump 18. Positioned in close proximity to the nozzle 56 is a hooded plate attached to an actuating arm 62 of a Microswitch 64. This switch, which is also mounted on a bracket 66, aflixed to the side of the sump, is connected in series with the circuit which controls the operation of the pump motor and the operation of the machine. Thus, it may be appreciated that water discharged through member 52 and nozzle 56 impinges upon the plate 60, which, in response to the presence of the water thereon, causes the switch to be opened and the pump motor temporarily disabled. This action removes excessive water from the trough so that even if the refrigerating action is not discontinued, serious damage will not occur to the ice forming members for the reason that the water has been removed and utilized to open the switch con trolling the operation of the pump motor.

Considering the operation of the invention, the trough and opening communicating with the line 51 are so constructed and designed that the overflow water, directed into the trough from the ice forming tubes, is moved directly to the thermal responsive bulb, and the harvesting operation is initiated and the freezing cycle discontinued. If for any reason the control system fails to operate, the pump will continue supplying water to the ice forming members. This condition will be quickly noted by virtue of an excessive accumulation of water in the trough 50, the rate of discharge through the opening to line 51 being less than rate of overflow water into the trough. When there is a volume of water in the trough suflicient to cause the siphon action referred to above, flow through line 54 commences. The water moves through line 54 with a considerable pressure due to the head represented by the water in the trough. This action enables the Water in line 54 to be discharged through the nozzle 56 with considerable force and activate the switch 64. When the water is bled off as is the case when discharge is effected through line 51, the water pressure necessary to activate switch 64 is absent.

This invention may be used with other forms of ice makers and may have its details modified without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as described in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An ice making machine comprising a refrigerated ice forming member; a sump containing a supply of water; an overflow trough adjacent one end of said member; means, including a motor driven pump, for continuously circulating water through a cycle including the sump and a surface of the ice forming member whereby a portion of the water is formed into ice as it moves over the refrigerated surface and a portion returns to the sump, said circulation cycle continuing until passage of the water through the ice forming member is restricted by the presence of the ice, causing the water to overflow into said trough; control means, responsive to the overflow of water from the ice forming member to the trough, for discontinuing the operation of the pump, said trough having an outlet in oneend, adjacent the bottom, permitting the overflow water to proceed to the control means; and means automatically operable in the event said control means fails to discontinue the operation of said pump, for opening the circuit of said pump motor.

2. An ice making machine as set forth in claim lwherein said last-mentioned means includes a member operable in response to a volume of water in said trough in excess of that as determined by the top of said outlet, the bottom and sides of said trough.

3. An ice making machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a member in said trough adapted to discharge overflow water therefrom at a rate faster than the rate of discharge through said trough outlet.

4. An ice maker comprising a refrigerated member, having an ice forming surface; means, including a motor driven pump, for flowing water over the surface whereby a quantity of ice is progressively formed thereon, said formation of ice serving to restrict the flow of water through said refrigerated member and cause the water to overflow from said refrigerated member, a trough having an opening in one end, for receiving the overflow, said opening serving to permit flow of the water from said trough; control means operative in response to said overflow for discontinuing the operation of said pump; and means automatically operable in the event of failure of said control means for opening the circuit controlling the operation of said pump motor.

5. An ice maker as set forth in claim 4 wherein said last-mentioned means includes an additional outlet in the trough operable in response to a predetermined volume of water in said trough.

6. An ice maker of the type set forth in claim 4 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a tube bent to provide a siphon action in said trough when the volume of water therein permits such action.

7. An ice maker of the type set forth in claim 4 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a switch responsive to a flow of water under pressure.

8. In an ice making machine, the combination of means providing surfaces for the formation of ice, means for refrigerating said surfaces, a sump member, a water supply header, a pump for circulating water from said sump through said header in a predetermined first path including said refrigerated surfaces to form ice on the refrigerated surfaces, the accumulation of ice on said surfaces serving to restrict flow of water over at least one of the surfaces, means including a receptacle separate from said header having a first outlet for directing water in a second path to return to the sump, and means disposed within said receptacle for directing water in excess of that which may be accommodated in said second path into a third path, and machine control means comprising a switch and water pressure actuated mechanism including at least one link member for mechanically actuating said switch, the actuation of said link member of the water pressure actuated mechanism being responsive to flow of water in said third path.

9. In an ice making machine, the combination of means providing a surface for the formation of ice, means for refrigerating said surface, a sump member, a pump for circulating water from said sump in a predetermined path including said refrigerated surface to form ice on the refrigerated surface, the accumulation of ice on said surface serving to restrict flow of water over the surface, means for conducting water restricted from flowing over said surface in a different path leading to said sump, and machine control means comprising a switch, and water pressure actuated mechanism including at least one link member for mechanically actuating the switch to move from a first position to a second position and nozzle means responsive to the pressure of water in the different path for jetting a stream of water thereby actuating the link member of the water pressure actuated mechanism to move the switch.

10. In an ice making machine, the combination of means providing a surface for the formation of ice, means for refrigerating said surface, a sump member, a pump for circulating water from said sump in a predetermined path including said refrigerated surface to form ice on the refrigerated surface, the accumulation of ice on said surface serving to restrict flow of water over the surface, means for conducting water, restricted from flowing over said surface in a different path leading to said sump, and machine control means including a first control regulated in response to temperature and a second control actuated in accordance with the pressure as opposed to the temperature of water in the second path, said second control comprising a switch, and water pressure actuated mechanism including at least one link member for mechanically actuating the switch to move from a first position to a second position and nozzle means responsive to the pressure of water in the different path for jetting a stream of water thereby actuating the link member of the water pressure actuated mechanism to move the switch.

11. In an ice making machine, the combination of means providing a surface for the formation of ice, means for refrigerating said surface, a sump member, a pump for circulating water from said sump in a predetermined path including said refrigerated surface to form ice on the refrigerated surface, the accumulation of ice on said surface serving to restrict flow of water over the surface, means for conducting water restricted from flowing over said surface in a different path leading to said sump, and machine control means comprising a switch and water pressure actuated mechanism including at least one link member for mechanically actuating the switch to move from a first position to a second position and nozzle means for converting the static pressure of the stream of water in the different path to velocity pressure to jet a stream of water having a velocity pressure component of a sufficient magnitude to cause actuation of the switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,593,874 Grandia Apr. 22, 1952 2,633,004 Leeson Mar. 31, 1953 2,633,005 Lauer Mar. 31, 1953 2,657,547 Heuser Nov. 3, 1953 2,691,275 Andrews Oct. 12, 1954 15 2,701,452. Hopkins Feb. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 400,270 Germany Aug. 23, 1924 

